Don't Downplay "Play": Reasons Why Health Systems Should Protect Childhood Play. Issue 5 (24th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nielsen, Lasse
• Is Part Of: Journal of medicine and philosophy. Volume 46:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 586
• Page End: 604
• Publication Date: 2021-07-24
• Subjects: child development -- health systems -- play -- social determinants of health -- social inequality; Medicine -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Ethics, Medical -- Periodicals; Philosophy, Medical -- Periodicals; 616.001
• DOI: 10.1093/jmp/jhab020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5310

Abstract

Abstract: Much research has studied the importance of play for children's development. However, questions of its political importance and our public institutions' duties to protect it have been largely neglected. This article argues that childhood play is politically important due to having both intrinsic and instrumental value, and it suggests that the duty to protect the capability for play in childhood falls especially on the public health system. If this argument succeeds, it follows that we have stronger duties toward our children than we currently believe.